Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) are in the perfect balance between outpatient care and inpatient therapy. They are intensive enough to help you rebuild your life but flexible enough to maintain one. The center we work at is Freedom Recovery Center (FRC) helped thousands of people by guiding them through our proven PHP program for addiction and co-occurring mental disorders. This isn’t just a theory. It’s exactly the 21-step plan that our clients have reported turning “I can’t” into “I did.”
Step 1: Admit You Need Structured Help (Not Just “Willpower”)
If you’re asking yourself “Can I recover with outpatient only?”
Yes if you have stable housing, no active medical detox needs, and a supportive network. PHP is for 62 % of patients who relapse within 30 days of residential discharge (SAMHSA, 2024).
Action: Call FRC at (855) 958-3721 for a same-day telehealth pre-screen.
Step 2: Verify Insurance in Under 5 Minutes
“Does insurance cover PHP?” PHP is classified as IOP-level intensity but billed as outpatient hospital services. FRC is in-network with Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross, and TriCare.
Step 3: Complete the Biopsychosocial Assessment
A 45-minute comprehensive, thorough assessment (trauma history, lab work, ASAM criteria).
Why it matters: 87 % of FRC PHP graduates who scored “high complexity” on admission needed dual-diagnosis tracks.
Step 4: Confirm Program Commitment Post-Assessment
“What happens right after the PHP assessment?”
After the 45-minute evaluation of your biopsychosocial skills, our Admissions Board reviews your file within two hours. Then you receive a definitive PHP starting time (usually within 48-72 hours) and a customized daily schedule program.
Key deliverables you’ll get:
- ASAM dimension scoring (1-4 risk per domain)
- Expected duration of the stay (4-12 weeks)
- Primary therapist and psychiatrist assigned
- Form for reconciliation of medications (bring all bottles on Day 1)
- Contract for attendance (95 minimum and excused absences must be documented with an MD note)
Step 5: Detox Medically if Required (Pre-PHP Bridge)
Alcohol, benzos, or opioids → 5–7 day inpatient detox at our sister facility. Medically managed detox cuts PHP dropout by 41 % (JAMA Psychiatry, 2023).
Step 6: Attend Orientation Day
Meet your peer mentor (90+ days sober), tour the 12,000 sq ft campus, and sign the PHP Contract, a public commitment that boosts completion odds by 34 %.
Step 7: Build Your Master Schedule
| Time | Monday–Friday |
| 9:00 | Process Group (DBT/CBT) |
| 10:15 | Psychiatric Med Check |
| 11:00 | Psychoeducation |
| 12:00 | Lunch (chef-prepared, dietary needs met) |
| 1:00 | Experiential (equine, art, ROPES) |
| 2:00 | Individual Therapy |
| 3:00 | Discharge Planning Huddle |
Step 8: Undergo Lab Monitoring Weekly
CBC, LFTs, urine drug screens. A positive test triggers a non-shaming staffing within 24 h. Results post to your portal by 2 PM; any abnormal LFT triggers a same-day hepatology consult and dietary adjustment.
Step 9: Master the 4-Point Daily Check-In
- Sleep (hours)
- Craving (0–10)
- Wins (one sentence)
- Triggers (one word)
Step 10: Complete a Family Systems Session (Week 2)
Can a family visit PHP? Yes, Virtual or in-person. We use CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training); 72 % of families report reduced conflict post-session.
Step 11: Earn Your “Phase Up” Privileges
| Phase | Requirements | Privileges |
| Red | Days 1–14 | Campus only |
| Yellow | Clean UAs + 80 % attendance | Weekend pass |
| Green | 28 days + relapse prevention plan | Take-home meds |
Step 12: Draft a Relapse Prevention Plan (RPP)
Triggers → Coping → Support → 24 h Safety Net.
Alumni who rehearse their RPP out loud in group relapse 52 % less.
Step 13: Attend One 12-Step or SMART Meeting On-Site Daily
“Does rehab have 12-step only?” No pluralistic. Choose AA, NA, Refuge Recovery, or SMART.
Step 14: Complete Vocational Snapshot
42 % of PHP grads secure employment or enroll in school within 60 days.
Detailed breakdown:
- Interest survey – Holland Code.
- LinkedIn audit – career coach.
- 3 job leads
Step 15: Pass the Mid-Program Psychiatric Review
“Can I keep my outside psychiatrist?” Yes, FRC coordinates care via HIPAA release.
Step 16: Lead a Process Group (Week 6)
Peer leadership = internal locus of control. Graduates who facilitate once are 3.1× more likely to volunteer post-discharge.
Step 17: Build Your Sober Housing Exit Strategy
FRC partners with sober living. “Do I have to leave home?” Only if the home doesn’t have a trigger-free environment. Otherwise, home passes escalate weekly.
Step 18: Complete a Formal Discharge Staffing
“Do I just walk out when PHP ends?” Not every graduate participates in a 30-minute Discharge Staffing on their final day, 2:00 PM.
Detailed breakdown:
- Attendees – Primary therapist, psychiatrist, case manager, peer mentor, and you (family optional via Zoom).
- Agenda (timed):
- 0–5 min: Review 90-day outcome metrics (UA results, PHQ-9 delta, attendance %).
- 5–15 min: Present your Aftercare Contract (IOP days, sober living address, sponsor phone).
- 15–25 min: Clinicians sign off; any gaps trigger same-week bridge (e.g., extra IOP session).
- 25–30 min: Hand you the alumni coin (engraved with start date) and discharge summary for your records.
Step 19: Enroll in FRC Aftercare (Free for 12 Months)
“Is aftercare mandatory after PHP?” The answer is no. 92 percent of PHP graduates opt to enroll. When you’re completing your discharging staffing, you’ll be required to sign a one-page contract selecting from four levels, which include Weekly virtual IOP, Monthly Alumni BBQ in person, 24 hours a day, and quarterly relapse prevention workshops.
Access to the alumni portal for a lifetime includes recordings of sessions as well as job boards. Step 20: Pay It Forward – Become a Peer Mentor
After 90+ days of sobriety, you’re eligible to join FRC’s paid peer mentor program. Mentors are monitored weekly and are awarded CEUs. 60 % of mentors have an increase in self-efficacy after six months (FRC surveys of alumni).
Step 21: Celebrate Year 1 with a Custom Relapse Autopsy
When you reach your anniversary of sobriety, FRC mails a sealed envelope that contains the Original Relapse Prevention Plan annotated by your primary therapist and accompanied by notes from the margins on each near-miss and the way you overcame it. A cover letter contains your own words from your weekly check-ins. 99 percent of those who received it call this “the most powerful letter I’ve ever received.”
FRC PHP Completion Rates vs. National Averages
| Metric | FRC | National (SAMHSA) |
| 30-day completion | 91 % | 61 % |
| 90-day abstinence | 79 % | 43 % |
| ROI (cost per successful outcome) | $7,200 | $14,100 |
